Peer Review

Carbon Cycle

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Dec 31, 2019 by Biology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This tool is an interactive simuation that allows students to see how humans are impacting the global carbon cycle. The simulator uses different variables to adjust carbon outputs and generates data on how these variables imapct atmospheric carbon emissions. The simulator accompanies a lesson plan on carbon which includes specific scenarios students can investigate. This tool can be used in high school or introductory college level biology courses as an in-class assignment or as homework.

Type of Material:

Simulation

Recommended Uses:

Can be used as an in-class assignment in groups or assigned as homework

Technical Requirements:

This site requires use of Adobe Flash Player.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

To explore how different inputs to the carbon cycle affect concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Target Student Population:

AP Bio, Introductory College Biology

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

There are no prerequisites for this site, although some knowledge of biology will help in understanding what is presented.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

At the time of this review, content of material is accurate and up-to-date
Images are appropriately categorized
Material is accurate
The information is an accurate and complete
Animations and simulations are straightforward
The learning objects are interactive and engaging
Animations and simulations are accurate and straightforward
Quality of graphics is good and provides enough detail for this level of understanding

Concerns:

It would help if some actual photographs accompanied the animations so users have an idea of how the animations relate to real life

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The accompanying lesson plan included with this simulation module provides guided activities for students to complete.
Includes a downloadable data table for students to record data.
Student data tables could be used for assessment.
The material is interactive and hence, keeps users actively involved with the learning experience

Concerns:

Users who encounter this site may not understand its utility without additional explanation

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Includes a help guide for use.
Interactive and easy to use.
Visually appealing with simple graphics.
No defective links or major bugs were found
Very easy to navigate to the different major sections of site
No defects were detected in the way the interactive lessons are presented

Concerns:

There were no concerns about ease of use at the time of this review

Other Issues and Comments:: No additional comments at this time.
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